8Series of gun battles in area during past one year
Two groups active, keep shuttling between mountains
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 26: A foreign terrorist of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) was gunned down by security forces while his three associates remained trapped in an encounter in forest area of Bihali, Basantgarh in Udhampur district today. A series of gun battles have taken place in Basantgarh during past over a year amid reports that two group of terrorists are active in the forest areas.
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The anti-terror operation by security forces comes just a week ahead of the start of annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas which cross from Udhampur on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
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A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Inspector, an elite Army Commando and a Village Defence Guard (VDG) have sacrificed their lives in the encounters at different places in Basantgarh during past over 14 months while three dreaded foreign terrorists have been eliminated.
Sources told the Excelsior that security forces launched search operation at Bihali forest area of Basantgarh after developing specific information about movement of four terrorists in the area along with sophisticated arms, ammunition and explosive material. Enforcement of Army, police, Special Operations Group (SOG) and paramilitary forces reached the spot and cordoned off the area early this morning.
“The area is forested while local population is some distance away and scattered,” the sources said, adding the contact was immediately established with terrorists and one of them was killed in the afternoon. Total number of terrorists is believed to be three and all of them are reported to be foreigners, most likely the Pakistanis affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit.
Body of the slain terrorist has been recovered from the spot. The search operations have been intensified to eliminate the three remaining terrorists, the sources said. There were no casualties of security forces in the encounter.
“Two group of four terrorists was being tracked for a year as they repeatedly keep on shifting their hideouts. The terrorists used mountains and forests to cross over to upper reaches of Kathua and Kishtwar and return to Basantgarh depending on pressure of security forces. However, they are now being chased everywhere due to enhanced strength of security personnel,” the sources said.
“Massive search operation is going on despite bad weather conditions at the site of gun battle,” they said.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Jammu range, Bhim Sen Tuti said contact was established with the terrorists at around 8.30 am.
“They are believed to be four in number and we have been tracking (this group) for the last one year,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He said a search operation was going on despite foggy conditions, and the real picture would emerge once the weather improves.
Officials added that the trapped terrorists are members of the Pakistan-based JeM and were found hiding near Karoor nullah by the joint search party led by the Army’s para commandos.
Earlier in the day, Jammu-based White Knight Corps of the Army said on X, “Based on specific intelligence, a joint operation was launched by Indian Army and J&K Police in the Bihali area of Basantgarh. Contact has been established with terrorists. The operation is currently in progress.”
There have been more than half a dozen encounters between security forces and terrorists in Basantgarh and Ramnagar areas of Udhampur district during past few months as there were reports that at least two groups of four terrorists might be operating there.
On April 24 this year, an elite Army Commando was martyred in a gun battle with terrorists at Dudu, Basantgarh. The terrorists managed to escape.
Prior to that on April 9, an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in the Jopher-Marta belt of Ramnagar, bordering Basantgarh in Udhampur district. Here also, the terrorists escaped.
On September 11 last year, two terrorists affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit were killed in an encounter in the upper reaches of Basantgarh.
On April 29 last year, a Village Defence Guard was martyred in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen in Panara village of Basantgarh.
A CRPF Inspector was martyred in another encounter with terrorists at Dudu on August 19, 2024.
Search and cordon operations against the terrorists are being conducted regularly in upper reaches of Basantgarh and Udhampur with Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, paramilitary forces and Special Operations Group (SOG) camping at different places.
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